"They control the shares. I'm a bystander," Charney told the magazine. "My first issue is to save people's jobs, put the company into a stable financial situation. And then we'll evaluate whether or not I'll be the janitor or the CEO or the consultant. … I believe Standard General [the hedge fund that kept AA from defaulting on its debt] will treat me fairly."

American Apparel's reasons for firing Charney included alleged misuse of company funds and violation of the company's sexual-harassment policy. In the letter detailing his termination, the board also accused Charney of offering "significant severance packages to numerous former employees to ensure that [his] misconduct vis-à-vis these employees would not subject [him] to personal liability."